Syron’s Early Introduction to the Academy Plants Seeds of Hope

Name of Business: Wok to Box

Business type: Food Stall

Location: The Philippines

Syron didn’t initially have a business mindset. However, after being introduced to the Academy for Creating Enterprise at a young age, he began cultivating the seed of entrepreneurship. Although he had to put his dream on hold for his education and mission, the desire to start a business remained in his heart, waiting for the right time to grow. “Once a seed is planted in your heart, it will always be there—waiting for you to nurture it so it will grow,” said Syron.

After his mission and getting married, Syron tried a variety of different business opportunities but felt unfulfilled by their uncertainty. “In the beginning, we invested in crypto trading. Then, we tried trading in stocks. It’s a very high risk, and you’re not sure. You can’t control everything. There are parts that you can control by studying where you put your money, but there are many elements that you can’t control. So we decided that we need to have a traditional business,” he added.

He began brainstorming business ideas with his family. His father’s sidecar business and his brother’s restaurant experience led him to a food venture concept. After much research, he launched Wok to Box, traditional food carts offering Chinese-style fried rice. The business took off, aided by social media exposure and word-of-mouth marketing.

Despite early success, Syron faced challenges in keeping up with the growing demand. He turned to the Academy, where he learned valuable marketing strategies and business principles during his training, such as separating personal and business finances, decreasing costs, and improving brand consistency. These lessons empowered him to expand and refine the business.

Through faith and perseverance, Syron’s business flourished. Wok to Box grew to 20 branches by 2024, allowing him to leave his full-time job in the BPO (business process outsourcing or contracting) industry and focus solely on his own business. His story is one of faith in action—he trusted that with God’s help and a focus on his family and business, success would come. The flexibility in his business has allowed him to spend more time with his family and better serve his community, including serving as the Nagcarlan chapter president.

Syron’s perseverance and passion for developing a sustainable business are helping his family and other Academy members in his area. His early introduction to the Academy has helped him continue on his path to improved self-reliance.